Peter DePoe facts for kids

Peter DePoe (born August 21, 1943) is a talented Native American rock musician. He is also known by his nickname, Last Walking Bear. Peter DePoe was the drummer for the famous Native American band Redbone.

When he was young, Peter DePoe played music with the legendary Jimi Hendrix in Seattle. In 1969, he moved to California and joined Redbone as their drummer.

Early Life and Heritage

Peter DePoe was born in Neah Bay, Washington, in 1943. He is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon. He also has family roots from the Southern Cheyenne and Turtle Mountain Chippewa tribes. Besides his Native American heritage, Peter DePoe also has French and German ancestors.

Peter DePoe's Unique Drumming Style

Peter DePoe is famous for creating a special drumming style called "King Kong." This style was very flexible and had a cool, funky beat. Many other drummers later learned from and copied his unique rhythms.

A well-known drummer named David Garibaldi from the band Tower of Power said that the "King Kong Beat" was very important. He mentioned it greatly influenced his own drumming.

Leaving Redbone

In early 1972, Peter DePoe decided to leave the band Redbone. After he left, the band had other drummers. These included Arturo Perez and then Butch Rillera, who was a cousin of Redbone bandmate Tony Bellamy.

Music After Redbone

After leaving Redbone, Peter DePoe continued to play drums. He joined several bands in the Washington area. One of these bands was Paco, a trio that played music from 1977 to 1979. They even made some recordings with a company called Topaz Records in Seattle.

Peter DePoe's Musical Contributions

Peter DePoe played drums on many albums with Redbone. Some of these albums include "Redbone" (1970), "Potlatch" (1970), and "Message From A Drum" (1971). He also helped write and arrange some of Redbone's songs. These include "Things Go Better...", "23rd And Mad", and "Cisco's Ride Home". His drumming helped make Redbone's music special and memorable.